Questions to Michael Linke, RSPCA re the Majura Massacre of Kangaroos

The RSPCA has undertaken various inspections under the Animal Cruelty Act in respect to the current 'culling' program kangaroos at Majura Firing Range by the Commonwealth Dept. of Defence. Various institutions forwarded several reasons for the necessity of this massacre, one being that the kangaroos were 'starving' so the RSPCA was requested to give advice regarding evidence of 'starvation.' The RSPCA was very compliant in providing the necessary statements this time last year for the 500 + kangaroos at Belconnen Naval Transmission Station, even though photographs taken by locals revealed no starving kangaroos. The majority of those kangaroos were killed so they wouldn't have to experience 'starvation.' On Tuesday May 5, 2009 Defence began to shoot the kangaroos which continued up till Wednesday May 13, 2009 at which time an injunction called for a cease-fire. In eight days a total of 4,000 kangaroos were claimed to have been killed - er sorry, 'culled.' We have a number of questions for the CEO of the RSPCA: 1. On What days, at what times and for what lengths of time were representatives of the RSPCA in attendance at the site before and during this period? 2. What procedures did these representatives use to ensure that (a) kangaroos were starving and (b) the killing by Defence was 'humane' according to the Animal Welfare Act and the ACT Code of Practice for the Humane 'Destruction' of Kangaroos. 3. In relation to question 2 above, please outline in detail:- (i) Did RSPCA representatives travel across the entirety of this large 8,000 ha site or were inspections restricted to particular areas? If the latter, please specify which areas were inspected. (ii) What sample size of kangaroos was used to draw conclusions about the population? (iii) Were qualified veterinarians in attendance at this time? (iv) Was any video footage or photographs taken before or during the kill program by RSPCA inspectors/representatives? (v) What percentage of kangaroos were killed by a single head shot? (vi) How were in-pouch joeys killed? (vii) How were ex-pouch joeys killed? (viii) How many Defence shooters were used and what was their level of expertise/qualification for the task? (ix) What type of firearms were observed by your inspectors to be used by Defence shooters to kill the kangaroos? (x) Was the killing undertaken by night spotlight and rifle shooting of free-ranging animals? Or were other methods such as rapid-fire weapons, coralling of animals used? (xi) If the kangaroos were confined, how long had they been confined? What type of fencing was used? Did they have access to food and water? Were they exhibiting signs of stress? (xii) Has the RSPCA given a schedule of numbers of kangaroos killed during the period including a demographic profile of male/female, adult/juvenile/pouch young? (xiii) Is the killing to be continued? Are the health and stress levels of the remaining kangaroos being monitored? On June 2 there will be an Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing in Canberra to determine whether or not Defence has adequate grounds to continue the killing in light of new scientific evidence that has not been considered by Defence proving that there need never have been any 'culling'. Jon Stanhope, in the meantime, has his knickers in a knot trying to create new laws to override the injuction so the killing can continue regardless. It's pretty obvious that there is another cover-up story waiting to be discovered, as was revealed at Belconnen. Would any of us be surprised if six months down the track poof! a new housing estate or extension of the airport required the purchase of surplus Defence land at Majura? I for one wouldn't be. HELP US GET 10,000 SIGNATURES - ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO SIGN TOO!